Duffy says no need for government bailout for budget airlines

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the government does not need to rescue lowcost airlines that have asked for $2.5 billion in relief after a jump in jet fuel prices, following Spirit Airlines' collapse. Duffy said airlines still have access to cash and should look to private markets first. He added that the government would only act as a lender of last resort, and argued that some requests may be driven by opportunity rather than need. The proposal came from a group of budget carriers, including Frontier and Avelo, which has asked for federal assistance and tax relief to help offset higher fuel costs. Major U.S. airlines opposed the request, saying aid would unfairly reward weaker competitors and distort competition.